Tuesday, 31 August 2010

If you do a bit of blog-hopping, I'm sure you are more than familiar with the French delicacy, Macarons. These are not to be confused with the egg white/coconut dollop biscuit, Coconut MacarOOns.

I've been keen to do some Macaron baking for quite some time, but fancy recipe blogs keep putting me off after they go through tedious step-by-step instruction with lots of caution and warning about how difficult these biscuits are to master. I'm ready to give it a go though, ready to fail and try again if needs be (although I hope not!) and ready to sink my teeth into some Macaron deliciousness.

When we were in Sydney last month we visited the Lindt Chocolate Cafe where I was lucky enough to actually taste my first Macaron...OH MY!!!! They are 100 x better than I even imagined and it is a good thing that there is no where around here that I can buy them from!

I bought this cookbook awhile ago and after reading it through am ready to start baking...but thought before I dive in I would see if any of my blog readers have had Macaron experiences, good or bad, to share?? If you have had a go at making Macarons, PLEASE give me some tips...tell me what did/didn't work - even share some recipes that you have successfully tried?

If you are Macaron-clueless, then here is a visual treat to drool over - and stay tuned...I'll share my Macaron trials with you soon!

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comments:

When we were in Paris I bought a couple of macarons from a take away place. I had one bite of one but decided I'd keep it for later. I gave the bag with them in to Garry to hold while I went into a shop and when I came back he had thrown it in the bin. He thought it was rubbish. I was sooooo disapointed and I didn't get another chance to try them.

oh my gosh! I had some at Lindt in Melbourne the other week and they are just soooooooo tasty and delicious that you just have to keep eating more. I've also been wanting to attempt to make some but do not think I would be skillful enough! haha! Can't wait to hear how you go with them! I think the most important question though....what flavour are you going to make?!

I bought that book too...I couldn't resist the cute cover! i have made a couple of the biscuits out of it but none of the macarons. The only thing I know about baking them is that you have to sift very very well.(thanks Masterchef!)

Only thing I can tell you about macaroons is that they did them on Master Chef this season and they looked great! Have you looked in the Master Chef Magazine with the Macaroon tree on the front! Very impressive!Angela

I have that same book - and i've tried a few of the macaroon receipes. They aren't too hard, but i've found they go soggy once the filling goes in. If you leave them for a day or so after the filling is in they do firm up - the only downside i have found to making them is that my kids find them too sweet, so i have to eat them all.......

I took a photo of that book when I saw it in Coles to add to my Christmas list. I lived in Paris for a year (!) and ate so many macarons (Debbie's story is such a tragedy!). I've wanted to try making them, but am a bit intimidated, so I'm looking forward to some encouragement!

I have made macarons in the past I followed the recipe from Master Chef website "Pistachio and Chocolate Macarons" they are sooooo good. What I found out when making them is that you do have to follow the receipe, draw the size on the baking paper so they are the same size, when beating the egg whites and sugar add sugar one spoon at a time and wait till it dissolves completely, leave them so macarons can form a 'skin' and I doubled all the ingredients because the first batch I made we ate in 30 minutes there where only 12. Happy baking.Sylvia F:)

No helpful hints but if you're ever in Hobart there is a new place in North Hobart that does several flavours that look fantastic. I'm planning to taste one as soon as I can resist buying their choc cupcakes instead.

Kelly mentioned the new place in Elizabeth Street North Hobart (the restaurant strip) - haven't got there as they only opened Friday! Chefand owner is Alistair Wise (Sally wise the Slow Cooker and Preserving book lady's son) He does a segment on ABC radio on Sunday Mornings. Planning to grab a coffee and try some later this week. Yummo! Good luck on your quest - will be watching. Mmm, wonder if I could make them in my new Thermomix???

I haven't made any so I haven't any tips but just wanted to say I love the occasional macarons. There is a Lindt store close enough for me to go if I want, and there's one in the city too and my sister buys them back sometimes.